Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-31

On comparing the majority and minority reports
Of the Pacific railroad investigating commission,
there Will remain no wonder In the mind Of the
reader that the views OF the two parties were
irreconcilable. NessrS Anderson and Litter han
die their subject with velvet gloves. They report
that the mileage OF the branches Of the Union Pa
chic road exceeds by about nifty per cent the mile
age OF the main line; that the system earned
during the last two years average OF 50 800, 900
net, OF which s.. 0OO,0O0 Is to be credited to the
main line; that the whole system is worth about
100000 OOoO; that IL is manifest that the Union
Pacific road will not be able 10 meet the principal
OF It's Indebtedness TO the government; and that
the only hope OF Strengthening this matter out is to
refund the entire debt principal and interest, In
three per cent bonds maturing nifty years hence.
ike provision Is suggested for the debts Of the
Central Pacific, the Central Branch Union Pacific,
and the Sioux City and Pacific roads, with con-
ditions attached In each case so that the govern
ment may enforce payment by severe measures In
case the companies default on any obligation In
the meantime.
Commissioner Pattison, however, makes a
straight-out attack upon the rotten methods
under which the Pacific roads have been built up
and conducted His report Is partly historical He
figures up the aid furnished TO the roads by the
government at nearly s44s, OOo, 900. and declares
that the benenciaries have violated almost every
obligation assumed by them In consideration OF
this assistance. He arraigns them for making
false 10 the government: for selling lands
TO which they had not vestige Of title; for over
charging for services TO the government; for max
ing outrageous Determinations between persons
and places solely for the prot OF the magnates IN
control; for dabbling In mining speculations and
FOR taking part In election contests. he charges
that Messrs. Stanford, Huntington, Hopkins and
Croker, by operations such as distinguished the
Credit Mooiner, divided between them s142 600 900
In cash and securities. and that the surviving
three Of this quartette, In the recent trans
action OF building one extension to the
Central Pacific road, made a clear profit
OF t4.3s4, 3g1. He estimates that honestly
managed. the Pacific roads might now have been
practically out OF debt; and three OF them after
restoring every dollar advanced by the Gov
eminent In their aid, might have reduced
charges TO their shippers to the extent OF
STAG, 1000. 900, besides continuing, for the whole
eighteen years OF their existence. the payment OF
SIX per cent dividends. The entire waste and
nisappropriation by the managers Of these roads
he foots up t247, 600 COO. For these reasons he
is opposed 10 any more halfway measures He
thinks 1t would be unfair to the western people to
levy further tax upon them In order to extend
the debt In his opinion, IL Is time for the Govern
ment 10 step in, wind up the affairs OF the Pacific
roads forfeit their charters and get out OF the
railroad partnership business for good.
VI DOJu IcpOrtS can De Vcr11eQ
only BY searching review OF the evidence laid be-
fore the commission including both oral and docu-
mentary. But any Intelligent observer can satisfy
himself OF the tyrannical use made by the corpo-
rations OF their power over western business from
the merchant prince or manufacturer down to the
humble settler, who buys his land, leases his
wster-rights obtains his agricultural supplies and
socits the privilege OF sending his goods to mar
kst, all from the railroad company or It's double
- alArl
provement company Men who can organize and
maintain such reign OF terror over the pioneer
Industries Of the Pacific slope are quite capable OF
doing any OF the shameful things OF which the
commissioners accuse the managers OF the Pacific
roads BY prompt amendment OF their charters,
the government would doubtless bring q good
many innocent security holders to grief but these
persons have always their remedy In the courts
against the men who brought their trouble upon
them; and It Is not unlikely that they would ind
both an able and willing ally In the author OF
the minority report just made public.